Russian software used by Swiss federal departments raises security concerns
An iPhone and PC decryption system used by two Swiss federal institutions is linked to a Russian company active in the field of digital investigations. Experts point out the cybersecurity risks.
The decryption system, ElcomSoft, is a privately owned company headquartered in Moscow, Russia. The company is active in the field of digital investigations. It produces software usually used by forensic experts as well as private companies to recover passwords and decrypt mobile phones and computers.
An investigation by the Italian language service of the Swiss public broadcaster, RSI, revealed that this Russian application is also used by the Swiss Federal Police and Armasuisse. At a time when cyber-attacks from Moscow are a cause for concern, experts warn of the risks involved.
At first glance of the company website, it states that ElcomSoft is based in Prague, in the Czech Republic. But actually, the company headquarters is in in Moscow. The Russian address was deleted from the company website after the war in Ukraine. Using the internet active website, Wayback MachineExternal link , RSI discovered that in November 2021, just a few months prior to the large-scale invasion into Ukraine by the Russian army, the company’s headquarters was listed in Moscow.
